ECB Sanctions

We feel sure you will have heard of the unfair punishment of Durham County Cricket Club (DCCC), for being in debt, by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). There are apparently other counties equally or deeper in debt, but no others were punished it seems. It is alleged that ECB have said that this was to make an example of Durham CCC, to the other Counties. All fair-minded cricket and sports lovers will agree how unfair this is.

According to the media, the numerous heavy-handed and unfair sanctions imposed by ECB include:

Demotion to Division 2 in 2017 Specsavers County Championship

Deduction of 48 points in the 2017 County Championship season

DCCC subject to a revised salary cap from April 2017 to April 2020

Instructions that any prize money won by DCCC to be returned to ECB

Removal of Test Match Status at the DCCC ground, the Emirates Durham ICG

Start 2017 with a 4 point penalty in the Nat West T20 Blast

A 2 point penalty in the Royal London One-day Cup in 2017

All non-player related ECB competition prize money for 2016 season to be refunded to ECB

DCCC not allowed to carry out any future capital development work without ECB’s approval

How can Durham be expected to turn around their fortunes when these draconian sanctions have been put in place?

Tom Moffat asks: After the “PUNISHMENTS” were handed down everyone I met – dozens and dozens – knowing of my Durham connections – expressed anger with expletives and every adjective possible about ECB.